The Fostering Services Regulations 2002

Local authority visits to children placed by voluntary organisations

41.—(1) Every local authority shall arrange for a person authorised by the local authority to visit every child who is placed with a foster parent within their area by a voluntary organisation as follows—

(a) subject to regulation 37(4), within 28 days of the placement;

(b) within 14 days of receipt of a request from the voluntary organisation which made the placement to visit a child;

(c) as soon as reasonably practicable if it is informed that the welfare of the child may not be being safeguarded or promoted; and

(d) at intervals of not more than six months where the local authority are satisfied, following a visit to a child under this regulation that the child’s welfare is being safeguarded and promoted.

(2) Every local authority shall ensure that a person carrying out a visit in accordance with paragraph (1)—

(a) sees the child during the course of the visit, or if the child is not there, makes arrangements to see the child as soon as reasonably practicable; and

(b) takes steps to discover whether the voluntary organisation which placed the child have made suitable arrangements to perform their duties under these Regulations, and those under section 61 of the 1989 Act.

(3) A local authority shall report to the Commission any concerns it may have about the voluntary organisation.